West Jordan Journal |February 2025 by The City Journals

WEST JORDAN BUSINESS OWNERS DROP IT ALL TO HELP AFTER HURRICANE HELENE

By Rebecca Olds | rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com

Driving across the country has been a recurring theme for West Jordan residents and business owners Christine and Karl Mason.

In their most recent 5,000-mile cross-country trek in November 2024, they found themselves in Swannanoa, North Carolina helping residents to regroup and rebuild following Hurricane Helene that hit in September.

A camper balancing in the top of a big tree and a dresser in the car wash of the local grocery store were both things that spoke to the couple of the devastation.

“The most striking thing after something like that is that you see all of these things that just don't quite fit right, and it just really brings to mind the level of damage that people had to live through,” Christine Mason said. “We got there weeks after the hurricane and flooding hit, and people were still shoveling and mucking out homes.”

Their camper in tow, the couple grouped with a volunteer effort that included about 50 members during the week coming from across the country including states like Wisconsin, California, Florida and New York.

Just their second day on site and they were able to leverage their connections at home with their son Tyler whose company donated a $20,000 communication system to assist with ongoing relief efforts.

Throughout their time there, story after heartbreaking story unfolded before them as they organized efforts to help mitigate flood damage, check for mold and help rebuild the town.

“Most of them broke down in tears when we started talking to them, because their neighbors had been through the same thing, and so we just give them that emotional support and let them know it's going to be OK,” Karl Mason said.

A particularly impactful story that resonated with the couple was of a younger woman who had clung to a tree for three hours as she watched the river flood and rush past with destruction and bodies.

Hundreds are still missing.

“This instance is just one example of countless times these two have been there for those in need,” Tyler Mason said, Karl and Christine Mason’s son.

Their first trip to help after a Hurricane was back in 2011 when they volunteered in

Karl Mason (left) helps rebuild a house in Swannanoa, North Carolina with another volunteer from New York named Frank (right). (Photo courtesy of Karl Mason)

Coach’s

It’s Terraine—a new built-for-adventure community up where the Oquirrh Mountains rise and the sage grows wild. Life is in high gear here with trails and paths, flora and fauna, a starlit amphitheater, sustainable style, and so much more. With a range from the $400Ks to $1M, your homebase is here. Elevate your days—come up to the West Bench and experience life at Terraine.

Texas for Karl Mason’s 60th birthday.

“Their motivation is not driven by recognition or glory, but by their personal belief that you’re there for your neighbors in a time of need—even if the need is across the country,” Tyler Mason said. “They've done some pretty remarkable things over the years and had massive impacts. And has, honestly, they have changed so many people's lives.”

The start of it all

Married at just 17 years old, the young couple just a few years later packed up everything and moved from Michigan to Utah where they’ve been ever since. It was a hard trek and they “broke down in every state between Michigan and Utah,” Karl Mason said.

The couple jokes about it now but as the trailer got a flat tire in Illinois after several other problems, Christine Mason

told a police officer who stopped to help them at one point to “stay away” because they were bad luck. The police officer’s car wouldn’t start after stopping to help the couple.

“We had flat tires on our trailer, the transmission went out in the Bronco, and the transfer case failed—but every time we had a problem, we found a good person,” Karl Mason said.

That cross-country trip set a precedent for the rest of their marriage.

On family road trips, that road trip to Utah became an inspiration for the Masons to pay it forward by stopping to help everyone they saw on the side of the road.

“[The kids] hated going on road trips with us,” Karl Mason said with a laugh.

“All of our kids do pretty much the same thing we do,” Karl Mason said. “They don't travel yet, but they will one day.”

Tyler Mason said his parents always

taught him the importance of being kind and helping wherever you go.

“Growing up with my parents, we were always going outdoors, being active, hunting, fishing, camping, you know, the typical Utah childhood,” he said. “But we always had that extra little bit that they bring to the table of caring for people.

“My dad has this weird knack for finding people. For whatever reason he was placed on this earth to help anybody and everybody with anything that they need.

“My dad is the epitome of jack of all trades, and paired with my mom, they're unstoppable.”

In 2025, they will celebrate 50 years, five kids, 12 grandchildren and a lifetime of service together, with a trip to Europe visiting England, France and Poland, where Christine Mason’s family is from.

There’s a good chance they’ll find someone to help along the way. l

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Christine and Karl Mason became evaluators of the group that organized and assessed whether the rest of the group could help with a project or not. (Photo courtesy of Karl Mason)

Karl and Christine Mason see everyone as neighbors. Their son, Tyler Mason, said “They’ve gotten where they are because of who they are, through resiliency, leaning on each other, giving back to those in need.”

Karl and Christine Mason are entrepreneurs and own several businesses in West Jordan including the Polish Market, Good Day Catering and Events and Auto Magic. (Rebecca Olds/City Journals)

Broadcast Club members use technical skills to entertain, inform

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Kids are often surprised when adults don’t remember what they learned in school.

“This one group was talking about the ocean, and they're like, ‘Yeah, everybody knows this about the Ring of Fire’ and I was like, ‘What's the Ring of Fire?’” elementary school music teacher Oliva Murphy said. “And then they went off for 20 minutes talking about the Ring of Fire and I was like, ‘I don't know any of this.’”

The ocean (and the millions of volcanos in it that form the Ring of Fire) is one of the topics Majestic Elementary Arts Academy’s Broadcast Club has covered in their podcast “Facts You Forgot.”

“The entire focus is, here are things that we learned in elementary school that as adults or as listeners you probably forgot all about,” club adviser and sixth grade teacher Angus Douglas said. “Whatever the kids are learning about in their classes is what we try to show on the podcast.”

The fifth and sixth grade students are excited to share what they know. During a recent episode, sixth graders discussed “The Odyssey,” the epic Greek story they were reading in class. In another episode, they featured facts they’ve learned about the solar system. (Warning to adults: The planet line-up is different from what you learned in school.)

“Our hope is adults will just listen in— they're short episodes—and learn something about a random topic from a sixth grader,” Murphy said.

“Facts You Forgot” is streaming on Apple Music and Spotify. Episodes are published once a month. The club’s twelve members choose the topics, write the scripts, record and edit the episodes with equipment purchased last year through a grant from Utah STEM Action Center.

“We were able to buy professional, top-tier equipment,” Douglas said. “The kids use all of it. We teach them how to use the equipment and they do pretty good with it.”

Murphy said with access to professional audiovisual equipment and software, students are learning some pretty advanced skills.

“A lot of them will have their phone or computer that they mess around with, but we have a mixing board, and they're learning how to adjust the levels and learning more advanced terminology,” Murphy said. “I can say ‘Turn up the gain’ and they know what that is and why we have to turn it up, and so they get pretty proud of their newfound skills.”

Students apply the skills and techniques they learn to create how-to videos, book reviews and “people on the street” interviews. The Broadcast Club is also responsible for the yearbook and the student

news broadcast for the school.

For the student news broadcasts, students share school announcements, give a weather report, talk about upcoming events, give reminders of school rules, give messages of encouragement and interview teachers and students—often with a random dance party clip thrown in.

With an audience of 5-12-year-olds, silliness is always a hit.

“The younger grades love it when we're silly and funny on camera,” Douglas said.

Weather reports are often where the students get creative and silly. They film it outdoors and often include props, puppets or flying objects.

“I really like coming up with different ideas to film,” sixth grader Amelia Sharp said. She and a friend had the idea to throw objects around in the background while filming a news segment in order to make it more entertaining.

For a video reminding students of appropriate hallway behavior, Alyssa Krauth and Katelyn Wright wrote a skit in which one of them followed the rules and the other did not. They exaggerated the examples for comedic effect.

“We want it to be more funny for the little kids so they would want to pay attention and not get distracted or get bored,” Alyssa said.

Knowing their videos will be shown in their classrooms, the students create content that they enjoy watching.

“I just love filming all the fun stuff and then getting to watch and re-watch all the little videos that we take,” sixth grader

Karen Lewis said.

Club Adviser and STEM teacher Meredith Llewellyn said the club provides an opportunity for the older students to be a good example and positive influence on their peers.

“They always have a unique way of presenting things to the kids—the serious things, like working hard in school,” she said. “A teacher can tell you that and it doesn't matter as much as when it comes from a peer.”

Students interested in joining the Broadcasting Club must audition by submitting a self-recorded short video of themselves talking about a piece of artwork.

Are the details of Odysseus’ epic journey a bit fuzzy in your mind? Have you forgotten how many moons Jupiter has? You are invited to “listen in and learn something about a random topic from a sixth grader” on Majestic Elementary Arts Academy’s student-led podcast.

“I think a lot of them were interested because they already knew how to make videos, but then we just take it a level deeper,” Douglas said. “None of them knew how to use iMovie, none of them knew how to edit clips and split them and do the audio enhancements. We've taught them all of that. So we're just taking their superficial skills and deepening them, just making them a little more proficient at what they're doing.”

Students are learning more than just technical skills, Murphy said.

“They're learning a lot of 21st century skills, like how to work together as a team, communicate with each other, but also to an audience,” she said. “That's a difficult skill for kids to learn. Also, creativity— they have to come up with the topics all by themselves, and they're learning how to write scripts and tell stories, which is another advanced skill. So it's really an all-encompassing process.” l

Sixth graders Amelia Sharp and Karen Lewis give a recap of “The Odyssey” for an episode of their school’s podcast “Facts You Forgot.” (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

Katelyn Wright and Alyssa Krauth prepare their equipment to film a segment on school rules for their peers at Majestic Elementary Arts Academy. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

Award-winning financial literacy teacher’s common cents method is on the money

Each year, the Utah Jump$tart Coalition, the Utah Office of State Treasurer, and the Utah State Board of Education recognize four teachers and one administrator who exemplify excellence in empowering Utah’s youth with financial knowledge and skills. Itineris Early College High School Director of Students and Facilities Jeff Bossard was awarded the 2024 Utah Financial Literacy Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his pioneering efforts in the field of financial literacy education. His method is on the money

Bossard had already been teaching financial literacy classes at Itineris Early College High School for four years when Utah became the first state to make it a requirement for high school graduation in 2008.

Bossard’s program, which prepares students to make adult financial decisions, is based on the best teacher of all— experience.

“From the state level, they tell you what to teach, but they don’t tell you how to do it, and so I tell stories,” Bossard said. “I tell them the very first day of class, ‘I’m going to teach you the good things I’ve done financially, and I’m going to tell you the mistakes I’ve made, so that you hopefully don’t repeat what I’ve done.’”

Jessica Jorgensen, who is co-teaching the class this year in preparation for taking over, said Bossard’s personal storytelling is an especially effective teaching method.

“He uses his life experiences, good or bad, to help teach students about being financially literate,” she said. “By being able to introduce topics in this way, it is easier for students to see the value in what they are learning; this helps them stay more engaged.”

Common “cents” lessons

The financial literacy class covers topics such as buying a house or a car, consumer credit scores, interest rates and taxes. Bossard’s students learn why they should care about those topics and how they can prepare to make the best financial decisions by imagining the life they want to have in the future.

Then they try to achieve it in a financial simulation, in which they get a job and then live within their salary to purchase a car and a house, deal with surprise repairs, pay taxes and bills, all while saving for retirement.

“Jeff feels super strongly about having the class laid out in this way because it is so helpful in helping students envision what they need to do to have the future they want,” Jorgensen said.

Students track current interest rates, salaries, grocery prices and real estate values.

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

“Putting the numbers in front of students definitely gets their attention, because even if they don’t understand all the concepts, when they see the numbers change either up or down, that clicks,” Bossard said. “It’s a fun class to teach because kids like to learn about money, and the more practical, more realistic, more real life that it can be, the better it is for them—and it also makes it more fun.”

Banking on remembering

Bossard acknowledges that many students won’t buy a house for another 10 years, but he has had a few buy a house within a few years of taking his class. He began investing in real estate at a young age and has purchased and sold $3 million worth of real estate in his lifetime. His personal stories about his experiences get students thinking about how they would respond to those scenarios, and he hopes they’ll remember his stories when they finally face these financial decisions in their own lives.

go to buy a car, and they’re like, ‘Oh, wow, this is going to put me really far in debt.’ So telling stories, that’s the stuff that sinks in.”

IECHS Administrator Rabecca Cisneros likes that Bossard walks students through real life situations which give them the tools and confidence they need to make their own financial decisions.

“He makes them actually think through real world problems and come up with solutions, so that when they are standing in the grocery store and they only have $3, then they think back to ‘Oh yeah, I remember when Mr. Bossard told me about this,’ and they think what are their choices,” Cisneros said. “So he makes that very meaningful and personal to them in a way that makes sense.”

In addition to stories, hands-on activities and games, Bossard also partners with Cyprus Credit Union, which provides guest speakers and workshops. Addressing the other side of the coin

This month, CCU helped sponsor a parent financial literacy night for the students’ parents.

“What brought this on is having students say, ‘My parents need to learn this stuff!’” Bossard said. “As an example. I

Bossard’s

program, which prepares students to make adult financial decisions, is based on the best teacher of all— experience.

had a kid recently, when we were talking about how to buy a used car, and he was telling the story that his mom went to buy a used car and totally got ripped off because she just didn’t know. And he’s like, ‘Man, I wish we’d had this lesson three weeks ago so I could have taught her.’”

Cisneros said parents, most of whom never had a financial literacy class, tend to have the biggest influence on their children’s financial decisions.

“I think too many times the kids are at the mercy of just knowing what their parents know, and so they just follow in their parents’ financial footsteps, which sometimes is good and sometimes is really bad,” Cisneros said.

Earning dividends on his investment Bossard’s class has influenced the success of many students’ lives, Cisneros said.

“The number of kids who said that was the best class, that was the most meaningful class, that’s the class that I’m going to use the most—that just came over and over again,” she said. “The thing that Mr. Bossard does really, really well is making the kids be engaged with the material, and he’s done it for so many years in different schools, off and on, that I think he’s actually changing the trajectory of lives for kids of all levels and abilities.”

There are many success stories of students who have applied the lessons they learned in Bossard’s class.

“Recently I had a former student come back and say ‘Thank you, because you convinced me way-back-when I needed to put money in a 401K, and I’m now 34 years old and I’ve got $250,000 in a 401K,” Bossard said. “I hugged him. I was like, ‘It’s so nice to know that you guys actually listen to what I tell you.’”

One of last year’s students started his own company.

“He felt really empowered to be able to transition into adulthood and he felt like he had an understanding of money and what it could do,” Cisneros said. “He opened his own LLC in his senior year of high school and met with a tax adviser and went down and put it into practice.”

Cashing in his chips

Bossard will be retiring in April, after 31 years of teaching, to work on building his dream home. He has been mentoring Jorgensen to take over his program. l

Utah State Treasurer Marlo Oaks, Lifetime Achievement Award

Recipient Jeff Bossard, State Superintendent Sydnee Dickson and Utah JumpStart Board President Richard Gonzalez at an awards ceremony held June 10, 2024 at Draper City Park. (Ania McGrath/Utah State Treasurer's Office)

Common busing issues resolved with tracking app

Two-hundred ninety-one buses transport 18,726 Jordan School District students on 168 different routes each day. For the most part, the system runs smoothly. But sometimes a problem arises and kids and parents are left wondering, “Where’s the bus?”

Two years ago, JSD equipped all their buses with a geotracking device. Using the Zonar MyView app, parents can see the exact location of their child’s bus, which solves many of the problems bus users face.

West Jordan resident Joshua Workman relies on the app to get information when his child’s school bus is delayed.

“When the bus is a bit late coming or going, I can pull it up and see where it’s at for some reassurance that we didn’t miss it in the morning or that it’s still on its way back from the school,” he said.

District Transportation Director Paul Bergera said the app has drastically reduced the amount of calls the dispatch receives from worried parents.

“We used to have kids waiting outside in 20 degree weather for 30 minutes because their bus broke down, and so now the communication is much more fluid between the app and the families,” he said. “It really has helped settle some of the nerves when it comes to bussing, which can be pretty stressful.”

In the app, Workman sets zones for home and school and gets notifications when the bus is near the bus stop in the morning and when it is leaving the school in

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

one set up in five minutes when it’s a little bit closer to the home, and once it gets there, they may have their message say, ‘backpack and out the door,’” he said.

Of the many benefits, Bergera said the app has been especially helpful to families of kids with special needs.

Jordan School District has 83 bus routes for students with special needs, most of whom are picked up at their homes. In the past, when the driver pulled up to the house, they would honk to alert the family they had arrived. If the child didn’t come out within two minutes, they would leave so they wouldn’t get behind schedule. With the app, parents can consistently have their child ready when the bus arrives.

And when those buses arrive at school, teachers can be ready to meet them.

the afternoon.

“I’ll get a notification when it crosses into the home zone and I can tell my kids it’s time to rush out the door,” he said. “With three young kids, it can be easy to lose track of the minutes in the morning, so when I get a ping on my phone it helps me make sure they don’t miss the bus.”

Bergera likes that multiple zones or geo fences can be created with customized text alerts to keep morning schedules running on time.

“So when the bus heads to the geo fence, it’ll say, ‘time to brush teeth,’ and they know they’ve got 10 minutes until the bus is coming to the stop, and then they’ll have another

“I’d say one of the biggest success stories is for the school personnel who didn’t know when the buses were going to show up, so they would have to call,” Bergera said. “But now they’re all able to track them so they can stay with their kids in their class and then exit out and get students that may be coming in on the bus that’s running a little bit behind schedule, so that they’re not having to wait out there for that entire time.”

The MyView app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. Privacy protections require that to set up an account, parents must have the school access code (which is available through Jordan School District’s transportation webpage) and their child’s student number. l

New West Jordan 8600 South bridge officially open

By Rebecca Olds | rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com

The long-awaited 8600 South bridge is officially open.

Along with West Jordan Mayor Dirk Burton and several West Jordan City Council members, Sen. Wayne Harper made an appearance at the grand opening the first week of January.

“As we step into 2025, I’d like to reflect on the progress we’ve made over the past year and share our goals for the year ahead,” Burton wrote in his January newsletter. “In 2024, we celebrated many milestones, including breaking ground on our new community and arts center, expanding Ron Wood Regional Park and hosting events that brought our community even closer. Just last week, we opened the 8600 S. bridge, improving connectivity and making travel easier across our city!”

This project, connecting roads 6000 West and 5600 West over Mountain View

Corridor, has been highly anticipated for its expected improvement of east-to-west traffic flow in West Jordan.

“We waited for it, it’s here,” Burton said in a city announcement. “Happy New Year!”

The original opening date was delayed in September due to a crack found upon final inspection which was corrected by an unnamed third-party engineering firm. No more taxpayer money was put into the project for remediation of the crack.

“This bridge is a game changer for our city,” Burton said. “Whether you’re driving, biking or walking this bridge has you covered with dedicated sidewalks and access to Ron Wood Park and Copper Hills High School.”

“With this new bridge, West Jordan is more connected than ever and ready to keep moving forward.” l

Each Jordan District bus is equipped with a GPS tracker which allows parents to receive notifications when their child’s bus is on the way. (Jet Burnham/City Journals)

The long-awaited 8600 South bridge is officially open. (Photo courtesy West Jordan City)

There’s a deficit of attention to understand ADHD

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

Bossard’s program, which prepares students to make adult financial decisions, is based on the best teacher of all— experience.

Jessica Jorgensen, who is co-teaching the class this year in preparation for taking over, said Bossard’s personal storytelling is an especially effective teaching method.

Common “cents” lessons

“Jeff feels super strongly about having the class laid out in this way because it is so helpful in helping students envision what they need to do to have the future they want,” Jorgensen said.

Students track current interest rates, salaries, grocery prices and real estate values.

Banking on remembering

“Financial literacy is one of these classes where you really do plant a seed,” he said. “And for some kids, it grows faster than for others. Other kids, it’s just in the back of their mind, and all of a sudden they go to buy a car, and they’re like, ‘Oh, wow, this is going to put me really far in debt.’ So telling stories, that’s the stuff that sinks in.”

IECHS Administrator Rabecca Cisneros likes that Bossard walks students through real life situations which give them the tools and confidence they need to make their own financial decisions.

In addition to stories, hands-on activities and games, Bossard also partners with Cyprus Credit Union, which provides guest speakers and workshops.

Addressing the other side of the coin

This month, CCU helped sponsor a parent financial literacy night for the students’ parents.

“What brought this on is having students say, ‘My parents need to learn this stuff!’” Bossard said. “As an example. I had a kid recently, when we were talking about how to buy a used car, and he was telling the story that his mom went to buy a used car and totally got ripped off because she just didn’t know. And he’s like, ‘Man, I wish we’d had this lesson three weeks ago so I could have taught her.’”

Cisneros said parents, most of whom

ADHD coach Raquel Gonçalves Lubbers presents information about ADHD to the staff of a Daybreak Elementary to help them better understand and help their students. (Photo courtesy Raquel Gonçalves Lubbers)

Third grade teacher Joy Edman posts visual reminders in her classroom to help her students with ADHD, who need multiple reminders of instructions. (Photo courtesy Joy Edman)

never had a financial literacy class, tend to have the biggest influence on their children’s financial decisions.

Earning dividends on his investment

Bossard’s class has influenced the success of many students’ lives, Cisneros said.

There are many success stories of stu-

dents who have applied the lessons they learned in Bossard’s class.

One of last year’s students started his own company.

Cashing in his chips

Bossard will be retiring in April, after 31 years of teaching, to work on building his dream home. He has been mentoring Jorgensen to take over his program. l

Having learned that many kids with ADHD are motivated by reward charts, third grade teacher Joy Edman uses charts themed according to their interests, such as reptiles. (Photo courtesy Joy Edman)

Textured wobble cushions are available to Joy Edman’s third grade students who need to move around in their seat without distracting others. (Photo courtesy Joy Edman)

Kids with ADHD are at higher risk for suicide, anxiety, depression and dropping out of school, said ADHD Coach Raquel Gonçalves Lubbers. (Designed by Freepik)

Salt Lake County Library exceeds 12.5 million books checked out in 2024

By Linda Steele | l.steele@mycityjournals.com

Residents visiting branches of the Salt Lake County Library checked out more than 12.5 million books in 2024. This made the system one of the top 10 highest circulating libraries in North America. This checkout of books highlights the importance to residents of Salt Lake County’s library services. The community has a deep appreciation of education and entertainment.

There are about 9,000 libraries in North America between the US and Canada. There are about 15 or 20 that circulate more than 10 million items a year. This entails all of Salt Lake County’s 18 branches.

“I’m hopeful we will meet 13 million in 2025, but it will probably be more than 12.5, because people in Salt Lake definitely love all of their library services, and it points to how valuable libraries are to the county,” Marketing and Communications Manager Sara Neal said.

“We serve a county that is passionate about reading and learning, and fulfilling those needs for our residents is very rewarding,” Senior Manager of Collections at the County Library Christa Warren said.

There is a group of people in the Salt Lake County community who are interested in helping to educate themselves and their family. “It is fun for the residents to share the cultural experiences in entertainment. The residents put a high value on knowledge, spending time together and sharing experiences,” Neal said.

Residents can access everything the library has, popular title books, musical productions, bands, dancing, theatrical experiences and fun seasonal parties. The library offers help with homework and lan-

guage learning with a free library card. The most popular book in 2024 was “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros, checked out by 12,000 people.

“This book definitely took the world by a storm last year,” Neal said.

There is a high check out for children’s materials. It is a good experience for children to learn about words, colors and about their world. Every branch has checkouts for all ages to help them explore the world. You can create spaces where you can use a sewing machine, 3D print items and get homework help if you need. The library has many resources for any age or stage of your life. The First Friday Concerts are a fun way to listen to music and have fun dancing.

With the change of technology in the

past five years people have moved to digital checkouts. “Probably 25% of our checkouts are digital, people who are reading e-books on their phone or listening to e-audio books, and it is all digital platforms,” Neal said.

Neal did some research and found out “Gen Z generation prefers physical books, because they have a digital experience for so many things, and having a physical book is preferable for them,” she said.

About two-thirds of county households have library cards. “So those who don’t have a library card should go to their local branch and see what they are missing out on,” Neal said.

The County Library can spark your interest to read, learn, play and create.

You will always be supported by the library employees in the programs, online resources, a collection of many activities, learning experiences for all ages and equal access. The library is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of all people and the community. There are movies for kids, teens and adults. Digital printing is available. You can reserve a room for your events. You can attend fun events and do your homework at the library.

“We serve a county that is passionate about reading, learning, and fulfilling those needs for our residents is very rewarding,” Warren said. “We are proud of the way we’ve delivered great materials to our patrons and thrilled to be one of the top circulating libraries in the country.” l

Residents visiting branches of the Salt Lake County Library checked out more than 12.5 million books in 2024. (Photos courtesy County Library)

Kearns Improvement District accepting entries for its Water Conservation Art Contest

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

The Kearns Improvement District 2025

Water Conservation Art Contest is underway and residents are encouraged to submit entries through Thursday, March 20. Using the theme “Water Conservation,” participants can create art that promotes water-saving practices, the beauty of water or the importance of conservation.

The medium for the artwork can include painting, photography, drawing, sculpture, mixed media, collage or digital art. Prizes will be awarded in the adult, high school, junior high school and elementary categories. Participants must reside within the boundaries of the KID service area.

Contributors should submit a high-resolution photograph or scan of their artwork in digital format plus a 50-word (or less) description of how the artwork depicts water

conservation. Prize money will be awarded to the top four finishers in each age group.

This is the third year for the art contest. When announcing last year’s winners, KID General Manager Greg Anderson said, “Part of our continuing conservation effort is working with schools and helping the kids to realize how big an impact they could have on water conservation within their own home.”

Winners will be announced on Monday, April 21. Winning entries will be displayed on KID’s website and social media sites and used in the 2025 KID water conservation marketing effort.

All submissions must be sent to KIDContest@kidwater4ut.gov before the contest deadline. More information, rules and guidelines can be found at kidwater4ut.gov. l

West Jordan swimmer is a coach’s dream

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

Coaches of any sport at any level know that athletics can be unpredictable—anything can happen. But for West Jordan swimming coach Sara Mitchell, she can always count on Garrett Draper.

Draper, a junior, is the consummate teammate and has everything a coach would want: a positive attitude, an undeterred work ethic, a focused mindset, a zeal for the sport and a love for his teammates. The 50-yard freestyle is his top event. Last season in the Class 5A state meet, he took first in the Unified Division. He swims other events too and does whatever his team needs.

Mitchell said Draper is an excellent example for the other Jaguar swimmers.

“Garrett brings a very special enthusiasm and energy to our team,” Mitchell said. “He is the first to dive in for practice in the morning. He is committed to every aspect of the swim team. He pushes himself during practice, swimming with the faster swimmers so he can become faster himself. Garrett listens to feedback and immediately applies it to his strokes. In a short time, he has improved from a complete beginner to a proficient and speedy swimmer. I love that Garrett is game for anything; if he can swim it legally, he’s willing to try it. From the 50s to the 500, on relays or individually, he is so determined to give every race his all.”

Draper has been swimming since age 7 when he joined the Otter Club through the Salt Lake County adaptive recreation program. Last year, as a sophomore, he became part of the West Jordan team.

Swimming helps Draper to work hard to be his best, he said.

cult, but he doesn’t let that define who he is as a person or a swimmer.

“One challenge I face is jumping off the block,” Draper said. “While it may not seem high for some swimmers, for me having a fear of heights it is high. But through the support of coaches and helping me practice, I have learned to face that fear and jump off the block. Routine and planning ahead is important to me. When the heat sheet gets changed or an event cancelled or added, it is a challenge for me to adjust. But once again, my coaches and teammates support me in helping me know what events have changed. Having some sensitivity to textures, wearing a tight cap and suit took some getting used to, but now it is easy. During a meet the pool can get really loud with all the cheering. Sometimes this is exciting, but sometimes it can make me anxious. I take deep breaths to help me feel calm.”

Draper is grateful to have so many people in his corner who look out for him. As a swimmer, this includes his coaches and teammates.

“To be successful in overcoming these challenges, I do my best to plan ahead, practice and identify people I can go to when I need support like the coaches, team captains and my teammates.”

same without Draper. She and the other Jaguars admire how hard he works and how much he has developed as a swimmer the past two years.

“Garrett makes such a difference on our team,” Mitchell said. “His peers admire his determination, his work ethic and his focus. Garrett cheers on his teammates and stays positive. The improvements he makes in his technique and his times inspire all of us. I’m so excited to take him to state again and watch him defend his 5A state champion title.”

Humility is another trait that Draper exudes. He has a simple answer for what he brings to the team and the important role he plays for the Jaguars.

“I show up,” he said. “I am always at practice, workouts and meets, ready to give my best and cheer on my team.”

The Class 5A state meet is Feb. 14 and 15 at Brigham Young University. Leading up to those two big days, Draper and his West Jordan teammates are doing their best to drop times and qualify for the meet.

Draper still has another season for the Jaguars after this one. He’s looking forward to being a senior and continuing his swimming career. He already has some big plans for the future.

“I have always loved water,” he said. “It has calming elements. I keep swimming because of the challenge of it; you can always improve your stroke and always get faster.”

Draper loves being a member of the West Jordan swim team. He enjoys the camaraderie and unity the Jaguars have. Draper spends a lot of time with his teammates in the pool at meets and practices, but he also has fun with them away from the sport.

“After high school I plan to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” he said. “When I am done with my mission, I want to learn more about culinary arts or horticulture.”

In the pool, Draper has challenges that most of his peers don’t face. He has autism, which can sometimes make competing diffi-

“My teammates are the best thing about being on the West Jordan swim team,” he said. “I like hanging out with them.”

Mitchell said the team wouldn’t be the

Until then, expect Draper to continue setting the pace for the Jaguars with his attitude and determination. He is sure to be among the first to congratulate teammates and celebrate their successes as they celebrate his. l

Kearns High student Jocelyn Vazquez won first place in the high school category for last year’s KID art contest with the photograph, “Going for a Swim.” Entries are now open for this year’s competition. (Photo courtesy of KID)

West Jordan swimmer Garrett Draper is a mainstay for the Jaguars. The positive, enthusiastic junior is a leader and example. (Photo courtesy of Sara Mitchell.)

“A”chieving excellence: CommonSpirit hospitals recognized for steadfast commitment to patient safety

At CommonSpirit Health, the safety of our patients is our most important priority. We are honored to share that three of our hospitals along the Wasatch Front received an “A” grade for our commitment to patient safety in Fall 2024.

This recognition comes from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonproﬁt watchdog focused on patient safety. Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to hospitals across the country based on over 30 performance measures reﬂecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.

CommonSpirit hospitals receiving an “A” for Fall 2024 include:

• CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley

• CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital – Mountain Point

• CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital – West Valley

We are proud of our physicians, nurses and all our caregivers for living our values of excellence, collaboration and compassion to ensure the safety of the patients in our care.

But our work isn’t done. Our vision of a healthier future for all calls us to continue to improve our delivery of compassionate, safe care to every patient, every time, in every care site across our CommonSpirit Health Mountain Region. Achieving that vision is our commitment to you.

CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital – West Valley

At CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.

CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital Mountain Point

Learn more about the services, care providers and missiondriven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.

The right ER. Right around the corner.

When you need emergency care fast, the closest emergency room is a smart thing to know. You never know the level of care you’ll need when an emergency happens and choosing the right ER can make all the difference. And a hospital ER comes with the confidence of additional services right on-site.

Find emergency care close to you at mountain.commonspirit.org.

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Christine McSweeney President

Chris Stines President

From struggles to success: Entrada helps adults achieve their dreams

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

MattJungert once felt embarrassed to admit to his church priest, Father Anthony Savas, he had not graduated high school.

“It was a sore spot, and I was ashamed I hadn’t earned it, but I learned to face it and, not let it hold me back,” he said. “It got brought up when Father Anthony asked if I would consider becoming a deacon and to become a deacon I needed to have a bachelor's degree.”

Jungert had attended West Jordan High and later Valley High, but his time in school was marked by frequent absences.

“I was just a hard-headed teenager and hung out with some kids I shouldn't have,” he said.

After turning 18, Jungert stayed in Salt Lake City while his parents moved, working various jobs from Pizza Hut to working in warehouses living paycheck to paycheck. For the past 15 years, he has driven trucks, hauling oil to refineries, which offered more stability, but the thought of returning to school lingered.

Father Anthony’s encouragement led Jungert to pursue his GED through Entrada Adult High School.

“I was helping him light the candles for the service that night when he asked me, ‘Is becoming a deacon something you'd want to pursue?’ I said, ‘Yes,’” Jungert said. “I remember how beautiful the candles were around the altar. That’s when I started taking a computer science class at Entrada. Soon after, Mark (Mataya, Entrada’s adult education director) called me into his office. He took the time to talk with me about my plan, and I learned that getting my GED would be a better path than trying for a diploma. So, I completed packets in math, history and social studies and took the tests.”

Six months later, at the age of 39 and 21 years after his classmates graduated, Jungert spoke at Entrada’s commencement about his journey.

“There’s an energy at Entrada; the teachers want people to succeed. One teacher, David Dau, gave me some tips for the first test. When I passed, I went back and told him; he was so excited for me. Having the support of David and Mark really helps. They love their jobs, and it shows,” Jungert said.

Now, he is pursuing a computer science degree at Western Governors University with his next step, enter the diaconate program.

Jungert is just one student who found success at Entrada. The high school’s enrollment has surged in recent years, upward of 800 students, and graduates about 180 each year, driven by high demand for both Entrada and its sister school, Diamond Ridge High. The two schools moved to the former Bell View Elementary School more than two years ago to accommodate their growing student body.

This school year, Entrada was recognized as the state’s “Best All-Around Adult Education Program” by the Utah State Board of Education.

Mataya credits the school’s success to several factors, including the establishment of a mental health wellness program, apprenticeship partnerships and the implementation of personalized competency-based learning. This teaching strategy allows students to learn at their own pace while still participating in a traditional classroom environment.

Teachers Rachael Coleman and Lynn Gutzwiller team teach the course and emphasize students can start at their current skill level and focus on gaps in their knowledge, rather than repeating what they already know.

“Our students come from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and knowledge, so we don’t start from scratch with every student,” Coleman explained. “We tailor our teaching to meet students where they are so it’s an efficient way to help them progress.”

Mataya says Entrada's hybrid approach, blending traditional and personalized learning, has been highly effective.

“When you walk into their classroom, it’s activity central. Students have the freedom to focus on what they need to learn, and they understand the expectations. They know how to push themselves to reach their goals. When they see working hard allows them to finish faster and move on with life, it becomes more rewarding,” he said. “They’re in control of their learning pace, not looking for ways to avoid work, but looking for what helps them in life—whether it’s getting a job or advancing their education. There’s a real energy in the room, an authentic, hopeful kind of learning.”

Mataya said not all of Entrada’s 200 classes use the same approach, but personalized competency-based learning has shown impressive results. While about two-thirds of students are enrolled in traditional classes, the remaining students in the competency-based classes tend to achieve “probably four times as much, in terms of credit they earn.”

“Last year, five of our classes adopted this model; this year, it’s up to 15,” he said. “It’s intensive, and not every student is ready for that level of challenge, but for those who are, it makes a big difference.”

Gutzwiller said the goal is to create a hybrid class with both teacher-directed and hands-on elements.

“The course is designed to let students move from one skill to the next, and as instructors, we need to support them along the way. We work one-on-one or in small groups, meeting each student and it shifts the teacher-student relationship to more of an advocacy role,” she said. “Many of our students come in feeling beaten down. To see them believe in themselves is powerful.”

Mataya emphasized the goal is to guide students in their own learning journeys.

“We want to empower them, whether they’re in a competency-based or traditional class,” he said.

That philosophy resonates with Steve Wrigley, a former Canyons school board member who has been teaching at Entrada for three years. In his U.S. Government and Citizenship class, he encourages students to advocate for their own learning.

“We discuss issues around a topic, and at the end of class,

I ask them, ‘What did you learn, and how can you apply it to your life? What’s important to you? Give me three things in your community that need to be addressed, and how would you do it?’” he said.

While the questions may seem simple, Wrigley admits they can be tough for students.

“Sometimes, the students don’t grasp the full magnitude of these issues. I have students tell me they’ve learned they need to pay more attention to their community,” he said. “Often, they’ve felt unheard in high school, so when I invite a school administrator or even the mayor of Sandy to speak, they’re surprised. They realize they have a voice, a vote, and the ability to make a difference.”

Last spring, Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski visited his class, along with Canyons School District Director of High Schools Tom Sherwood. Wrigley also has hosted city councilmembers and the district’s superintendent.

“The mayor told them she was no different than they are,” Wrigley said. “She was advocating for Dimple Dell, and realized she could make a difference in government. The students were impressed she came, shook their hands and answered their questions.”

During a discussion with Sherwood on topics ranging from transportation to mental health, the students were invited to email their suggestions and concerns.

“He promised to take their feedback back to share with others,” Wrigley said. “It showed the students that their voices matter.”

His class covers diverse issues such as naturalization, voting, homelessness and the environment, but he’s aware many students don’t learn in a traditional way.

“I always ask, ‘Here’s the subject—how does it relate to you?’” Wrigley said. “Our goal is for students to believe in themselves, so they see they can succeed. Every teacher here wants these students to succeed. Our future depends on them.” l

Entrada graduate Matt Jungert, seen here with his wife, Gretchen, and his daughter, Isabel, spoke about educational journey during his school’s commencement address. (Photo courtesy of Matt Jungert)

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University of Utah pioneers new medical humanities degree

By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com

Literature is filled with examples of all sorts of doctors: Dr. Jekyll, Dr. Frankenstein, Dr. Faustus, Dr. Zhivago, even Dr. Dolittle.

And it turns out that reading those books – and the study of humanities in general – can be instructive for real doctors, too. At least that’s the kind of thinking behind a new program being pitched at the University of Utah.

Two professors at the U. are pushing for the school to launch a bachelor’s degree called “medical humanities,” where students who want to go into the medical field will study the classics of writing, the arts, philosophy and ethics – all with the intention of making them better, more holistic health care providers.

“The U. is already known for its excellence in providing healthcare for medical research, for its expertise in medical ethics, for arts-and-health initiatives,” said Gretchen Case, director of the U.’s longstanding Center for Health Ethics, Arts and Humanities. “We have the great fortune of having a health sciences campus adjacent to the main campus, which is not true at all universities. We can share knowledge and expertise easily in all directions.”

Jim Tabery, one of the professors overseeing the new degree, said they designed the degree looking at the background in medical

humanities, both historically and contemporarily, to see that it’s really interdisciplinary.

“You’ve got everything from people in theater and media studies to folk like me in philosophy, to people over in health communication to people in disability studies,” Tabery said. “There’s lots of people interested in doing that and making sure it’s helping people and not hurting people beyond the cli-

nicians and the folks in the hospital.”

Tabery said they wanted to give students a sense of that interdisciplinary breath when designing the degree.

The health and ethics center has existed at the state’s flagship institution with various name changes but a singular mission since 1989. It is focused on bringing insights from the humanities and arts into the medical world of science, an intersection that Case sees as natural and beneficial, teaching healers to act with compassion, according to the center’s mission statement.

“Healthcare is humans giving care to humans,” she said. “Without attention to all humans in that exchange, you aren’t truly giving or receiving care.”

The U. already has a minor in medical humanities; it is also currently the only traditional public university in the state with an associated medical school. Now, Case wants to see the program expand into a full degree for students to major in to train the next generation of doctors.

The degree would be carved into four “core areas.” Tabery said the core areas consist of communication and culture, ethics and epistemology, arts and letters, and disability, gender and ethnic studies. Each student would have to take at least two classes in each of the core areas.

Tabery said they started by scouring the university and asking other professors if their medical students could take their classes, and he said other professors were very interested in getting involved. Soon enough, Tabery said they had a huge list of courses that are offered across the campus.

Tabery said, this way, students get to figure out how they want their medical humanities degree to focus on.

“We think that combining medical humanities with some other health related or science related field is going to make them both more competitive for that next thing, but

also make them a more patient centered and informed practitioner of that health related discipline,” Tabery said.

Softer skills, like close reading, analyzing a text, listening, asking questions, connecting with people, are often developed in the humanities classroom. And they can go a long way in building a foundation for health professionals, along with the science they learn in chemistry or biology, when working with patients with complex illnesses.

That can include telling someone they have a life-changing diagnosis, studying a patient’s symptoms, thinking creatively about how to treat an illness and generally communicating with kindness. Essentially, viewing an X-ray uses the same skills as interpreting art.

“We want students who are not explicitly interested in becoming a healthcare professional also to choose this major,” Case said. “We need people in all professions who understand health and healthcare.”

Tabery said there is demand for it in Utah, which doesn’t have any school offering degrees in this field while roughly 130 universities nationwide do, mostly on the East Coast.

“And I would say there has certainly been no pushback,” he said. “If anything, it’s been the opposite of people sort of coming out of the woodworks and expressing more interest in it.”

Tabery said it’s been gratifying to see the response and that it “speaks to the need for this program” and how well positioned the U. is to provide it.

“I would love to see the University of Utah known internationally for its innovative, interdisciplinary approach to health and healthcare, and I think that is absolutely possible,” Case said.

The new degree would help give students an edge in applying to medical school, particularly if they pair it with a traditional science degree.

“I hope adding medical humanities to what they do makes them think more about things like how to communicate better about the ethical implications of their decisions about how medicine, when it’s deployed, affects certain populations differently than other populations,” Tabery said.

Tabery said the degree would make students much more well-rounded and more informed consumers of the medical research they’ll have to put into practice.

If approved, the program would start in fall 2025, as a collaboration between the Department of Philosophy and College of Humanities. It passed unanimously in the Academic Senate, though it will still require final approval from both the U.’s board of trustees and the greater Utah System of Higher Education. l

The University of Utah hopes to launch a new bachelor’s degree called medical humanities by fall 2025. (Adobe file photo)

Valentine’s Day. A day of love. A day we often focus on showing such love to our family, our friends, our coworkers, and even through Valentine’s we get for our children to give to their teachers. However, regardless of whether we are single, married, or in a relationship, we can often overlook showing a little love to ourselves.

Jayna Marie, a renowned celebrity makeup artist in L.A. whose work has transformed many lives, says “Loving ourselves is so important because we teach other people how to treat us.” She cautions, “The way we see ourselves determines the love we are going to accept from other people.”

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in societal expectations and lose sight of our uniqueness as we focus on our imperfections. We often struggle with body image concerns, seeking validation, or simply focusing on the challenges of life we face. Instead, Marie encourages us to embrace imperfections and celebrate individuality as an integral part of who we are through the following three steps:

1. Overcoming insecurities

2. Having gratitude for one's body

3. Understanding and accepting one's story

Overcoming our insecurities is not to

Embracing self-love this Valentine’s Day

By Holly Curby | hello@hollycurby.com

be expected overnight, but rather a lifelong process. Marie lives by a mantra of “breathe in self-confidence, breathe out self-doubt.”

Criticism often mirrors personal insecurities and by understanding this, we can better support one another's journeys. “Seeking validation from others can be both exhausting and unfulfilling,” Marie says. Instead, she encourages introspection and support for each other.

As for having gratitude for one’s body, Marie emphasizes, “We are never going to

be younger than we are right now. Before we know it another 10 years will be gone and we’ll be wishing we looked like we do now or had the energy we do now.” Marie believes we are in either a phase of glowing or growing. Growing can be painful, but the glowing part is the outcome after the difficulties and hard work have been put in. There is such significance in having gratitude for our current selves and the fleeting nature of time, so might we cherish the present and live authentically.

Marie advises, “Part of understanding and accepting one’s story is being courageous and believing it’s going to end beautifully no matter where we are at in our story.” She continues that, “sometimes we have a hard time embracing our story because we aren’t where we want to be.” She encourages embracing faith in what is to come compared to the fear of where you are at on your journey. Resilience is gained through faith during such challenges of life. Both self-love and self-acceptance are significant in overcoming life challenges as we seek to live authentically, celebrate our unique stories and differences, and build a supportive community of mutual support and growth. “No matter where you are right now, how hard or scary it might seem, it’s exactly where you are to be,” encourages Marie.

As we navigate our journeys, let us remember that we are wonderfully made and that our stories can be more beautiful than we ever imagined. Listen to this inspiring interview in full and embark on a journey of self-love and empowerment on Holly’s Highlights Season 4 Episode 3. Embrace your inner beauty and cherish the present moment as you transform your life through self-love this Valentine’s Day. l

Full interview on Holly’s Highlights podcast. (Photo courtesy of Jayna Marie)

Learning to self-love. (Photo courtesy of Caleb Jones)

Cremation Services

UPCOMING

Former West Jordan swimmer now heads up the JDCHS program

By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com

New Juan Diego Catholic High School swimming coach Chad Starks has been swimming for as long as he can remember. “I think my parents had me go so I would stay out of trouble. Never really looked back. I have basically swam my whole life,” he said, noting that he was a distance swimmer at West Jordan High School.

Starks is now bringing his lifelong passion for the sport to Juan Diego to head up the program after successful coaching stints at Jordan and most recently at Judge Memorial, where his boys three-peated from 2021 to 2023 and the girls Bulldogs squad won consecutive titles in 2022 and 2023.

But Starks hasn’t removed himself from swimming as he accomplished what’s known as the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming where he swam the English Channel, Catalina Channel and around the island of Manhattan, achieving the feat Aug. 17, 2019. He became the third Utahn to swim the English Channel and the third from the state to earn the Triple Crown.

back to the kids so that they can compete in a sport and have the feeling of being on a team that some wouldn’t usually be able to,” Starks said. “Swimming has always been a place to go when kids had no other place to go. Everyone always brings everyone close and it’s a family.”

The 3A boys coach of the year in 2023 joined former JDCHS swimming coach John Moran last season to assist the program with the intent to step into Moran’s shoes when he stopped coaching. Starks said the swimmers have been tremendous in the transition. “This is all about the kids,” he said. “I love to see them improve and swim their best. It is awesome to see the look on their faces when they achieve a personal best time and watch them complete in something that they never thought they could do.”

Starks got into coaching to give back to the swimming community. He and his wife additionally own the USA swim club Wasatch Water Dragons locally. “I also wanted to give

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Starks also emphasizes the “student” aspect of his student-athletes. “I make sure they know that school is the number one priority,” he said. “If they need help they come to swim to get the help they need. I make sure all the kids have access to the help with schoolwork that they need and a lot of our swimmers help each other to ensure that the school work is completed. These kids are great to coach.”l

JORDAN SCHOOL DISTRICT - Public Notices

Every child is entitled to a public education regardless of disability. Children with disabilities may go without services because families are not fully aware of their options. If you know of a child, birth to age 22, who is not receiving any education services or feel that your child may be in need of special education services, please contact your local school or call the Special Education Department in Jordan School District at (801) 567-8176

SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS DESTRUCTION

On January 31, 2024, Jordan School District will destroy special education records of students born prior to September, 1996. Former special education students who are 27 years old may request their records from the school last attended; otherwise, the records will be destroyed.

CARSON SMITH SCHOLARSHIP

Public school students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) may be eligible for a scholarship to attend a private school through the Carson Smith Scholarship program. Further information is available at http://www.schools.utah.gov/sars/Scholarships.aspx

As the days grow shorter and the cold settles in, many of us start to feel the weight of seasonal depression. If your struggle with depression includes low energy, lack of ambition, or a sense of isolation, you’re not alone—and we can help.

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With visions of Jack White, Prince and Sophie Lloyd strumming in my head, I started taking guitar lessons last year to prove that old dogs can still be tricky. After months of lessons, I confidently state Jack White can rest easy. I won’t be coming for his job.

Guitar lessons have challenged my patience but expanded my capacity for playing incorrect chords on a slightly outof-tune instrument. I pluck through terrible-sounding riffs and know practice time is over when I drop the guitar pick in the sound hole for the hundredth time.

Each week, I meet with the ever-patient Emily at Guitar Center so I can go over my lesson. I spend most of the time trying to convince her I really did practice while ignoring the eye twitch she develops whenever I play an F chord.

She’ll give me advice like, “Press the strings harder” or “Change the position of your thumb” or “Maybe take up baking.” I go home and practice chords and strums and fingerpicking until even the dog leaves the room. But after practicing “Blowin’ in the Wind” for six weeks, my husband finally recognized the chorus.

I’ve gained an appreciation for guitar players, and I get enraged by people who say they taught themselves to play the guitar because that can’t possibly be a thing. Like every child in Utah, I took piano lessons, and that background has helped with counting and timing but that’s the extent of its helpfulness when it comes to the guitar.

The hubby and I visited Nashville in October, where even toddlers can play the intro to “Stairway to Heaven,” and it highlighted how much I still have to learn. Every dive bar had an exceptional guitarist strumming chords while holding a beer bottle. I ate chicken wings and sipped margaritas, mesmerized by their talent.

Time to face the music

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

Not only were they exceptional, but they could play any song by heart. My brain has no storage capacity. My hard drive is full. I can’t memorize songs, and I can barely remember chord progressions. I’m still looking at chord charts like they’re hieroglyphics.

Learning guitar is mostly about finding new ways to use your nondominant hand. In theory, a plucked string should create a musical vibration. In reality, a plucked string provides a muffled thud because I’m not on my fingertips or I’m too far from the fret or I can’t stretch my hand into a barre chord or I’m just inept. All of those things can be true.

After I played “If I Had a Hammer” for several weeks, my husband said if he had a hammer he’d smash my guitar. Not nice. But fair.

I grew up listening to singers like Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. Mom and my aunt would visit assisted living centers (they were called rest homes in the ’70s) to sing and play the guitar, entertaining the captive audience. Sometimes I’d sing along and screw up their “Leaving on a Jet Plane” harmonies with my squeaky 8-year-old voice.

Learning to play the guitar is a connection to my late mom. I can’t say my guitar music honors my mom because no one deserves that kind of honor, but I can imagine her

smiling (and probably grimacing) whenever I pick up the guitar. Maybe there are earplugs in heaven.

Watching Prince perform at the Super Bowl, seeing Jack White in concert and hearing Sophie Lloyd shred has become an act of reverence. I stand in awe at their talent as I slowly pick through “Five Hundred Miles” for what feels like the 500th time.